Catoctin clarion., 1887-05-26

| on. In 1856 the present guard house was
built and stands in the centre of the csplan
adc. A high round building Of stone that
would have been a cone had the builder car
ried his idea out, but he seemingly brought
his work to u close before his plans were
complete. In the sides are long narrow Win
dows, iron barred, deeply set into the solid
walls that are nearly three feet in thickness
and through the grated door the observer
can only see n mass ofimp darkness
Over ITS whitcncd walls the clinging ivy
crccps, and robs it in u measure of its grim
and forcbodlng look. This guard. house isl
study. 1t is built Of thin slabs and stones,
and its walls are covered with Il thin coating
of white wash. [, always gives the imprcs.
sion that it holds secrets equal TO the terrible
mysteries of Nero's torture chamber, and
one can well imagine an Iron Mask might
once have been imprisoned behind its bars
and iron doors. 1t is the pet of skctchng
clubs, and during the summer while the ivy
rs thickcst and its walls the whitcst, embryo
artists flock here to try their Ccverncss on
the Old Guard House. 1t is here that the
men who neglect their duties are incarccra-
ted ard made to suffer for their wrong dong.
Every hour. day and night n guard passcsup
and down and around this silent pile of
stones. There is no possible avenue ofcs-
cape for the prisoners. except through the
doorway, and with this always under the
vigilant eye of the sentry there is little hope
of the imprisoned enjoying freedom until
they shall have served their full time, or
he set free by some special occurrence
Just across from the Guard House is the
military prison, and here are confined more
than forty men who have deserted the ser
vice, been caught and sentenced by court
martial to two wears penal scrvitudc. The
convicts are dressed in blue dcnims ovcra.lS
and blue flannel shirt During the summer
they are kept busy moving the lawns, and
clearing the parade grounds OF debris. They
take their punishment with good grace,
and with colorcd handkerchief knottcd
about the neck. broad brinmcd slOuch hat
upon their shavcn heads, and a short STEM
cd clay pipe between their teeth they WELD
the pick and shovel or push the lawn.mowrr
with as good will rs the guard who stands
over them, lolls IN the shade and carries his
rifle over his shoulder. The grounds enrlos
ed within the limits of Fort Smelling proper,
is u picture of ncancss. The fresh young
grass is cropped close, and not srre leaf,
dry twig, or scrap Of paper is allowed t" mar
the beauty of the lawns. From the brow Of
the bluff that OverloOks the river u broad
macalami2cd street winds back toward the
western limit of the reservation. 1t lies
white, hard and level, between two rows of
healthy trees that soon will be rich with foli-
age This beautiful drive is the pride of the
rdisl and drivist, if we may he allowed the
coming. From a bench nearby, we observe
the well appointed coupe and pair, held in
check by his nibs of the regulation yellow
top boots and plu,hcd plug hat lie sees
nothing but his horses and three feet ofroad
ahead. Behind him sit the fond mamma
and daughter, deep seated in soft cushions.
dressed in the finest, and sparkling with
paste diamonds and a pug dog. Here comes
an every day sort of team, likely II man
passing through the reservation on his way
to st. Paul, and Just behind an eight dollar
per week Young man, out with his latest
mash, whose father is TO the boysl u big
dealer IN options on acrcs-"donchcr know.
Early in the afternoon, may be- just after
the hotel clerk has punched number 2l out
of his meal ticket, this young man goes to
1 the livery man and swaps his hard earned
>hckcls for the delightful (:) privilege of,wo
hours riding behind Il pair, with she he has
loved one whole week now He looks and i
acts well, and it sounds nice to hear him
Spclk of the day his old man gave him this
! team and a good lecture to quit chewing to-
! hacco. They enjoy it, he says many nice
and foolish things, and is sure he has made
deep impression, while she wonders by
what hook and crook he will manage to get
| his small package of cuffs and collars from
! the laundry that night.
! \ yell, three dozen assorted cuss.wor,ls
and puff Of wind saturated with brimstonc
announce the approach of what might be-
! Judging from the noise and dust, cyclOnc
| but it is only n Jumbo driven by Il man
/ who lcaps 50 far to the front that it is an
| open half and half who wins, Jumbo or the
driver. 1t is Il race against grocery dcllv.
cry team, and Il hot one too. The delivery
horse has every appearance of having served
his time in the fire department, and as they
dash ont of sight we bet with oursclf and
burst into Il laugh when we see the teams
climb the hill oppisitc, with u rail tied under
each hind axle. But Jumbo was not beaten
neither was the other. w. l.. +.
tCoNTINtED.)